Timing on 5 step

[j1boomer]

Curious if there is anyone else out there that pushes away on the first step of a five step approach. or am I alone in this world. I try to change it, but once I stop thinking about it and just bowl I go right back to pushing off as I start my approach.

[Judy clemons]

I switched over to the 4 step due to that very same problem. I decided it was easier to change my step than it was to
stop the push off and now my timing is working great. (it worked for me) you may or may not even want to try that.

[Tampabaybob]

Curious if there is anyone else out there that pushes away on the first step of a five step approach. or am I alone in this world. I try to change it, but once I stop thinking about it and just bowl I go right back to pushing off as I start my approach.

J..... Remember no two bowlers are exactly alike and if you're changing because you think you should...don't. If you're changing because of timing issues then I would say, go ahead and work on it. I guess my first question is why do you want to change? Is it affecting your finish at the line? Are you off balance ? Do you think you're losing leverage because of it?

Just because you push away on that first step, as long as your timing puts you slide and swing together at the foul line, I don't see anything wrong with it. As with most changes we make in our deliveries, it takes approximately 1200 repetitions for the body's muscle memory to do the change automatically. If you "want" to change, and work hard at it, you can make it happen.

I bowl my best when I have a deep knee bend at the line. It gives me better leverage, more roll, and much better accuracy. BUT, I have to continually remind myself (self talk before I take my first step) to "Bend and reach". Only then does it happen and happen smoothly. Several years ago, I was coaching a learn to bowl class with Palmer Fallgren (9 time PBA title holder). One day after class I mentioned I wanted to stop drifting as much as I do. Here's what he told me; "When your livelihood depends on it, you'll make it happen". I have always remembered his words. To this day, I still drift a lot, my livelihood doesn't depend on my bowling, and I still average close to 220. So unless you want to do this for a living, don't worry about it.

[JPbowl]

Check out the segment in the video below, it talks about the difference between 'pushaway' and 'hinge' technique
You can see the pro's timing.

2:45 - 3:45

[Greenday]

I used to do the pushaway on my first step. It was because I pushed up instead of just down. I did that until I fixed my pushaway and now I'm back to my second step.

[billf]

I hinge..problem solved.
As Bob said, if your finish timing is accurate, who cares. (nicely summed up, eh)

[j1boomer]

I hinge..problem solved.
As Bob said, if your finish timing is accurate, who cares. (nicely summed up, eh)

don't know if hinge is the solution. have fast feet already, shortening the length of my arm swing would make them have to move faster to catch up. would have to hold the ball like rash to make it work. I just wanted to know if I was the only one that did this. tried 4 step approach today in practice for first time in probably 20 years. ended up taking 8 baby steps. watching video my timing appears ok. but trying to tweak my mechanics. always been stuck in 210-215 range trying to get to 220.

[J Anderson]

Curious if there is anyone else out there that pushes away on the first step of a five step approach. or am I alone in this world. I try to change it, but once I stop thinking about it and just bowl I go right back to pushing off as I start my approach.

I've watched some old PBA telecasts from the 80s, and a Swedish bowler named Matts Karlsson appears to push the ball straight out and then take a five step approach. I'm not sure why it worked for him, but he was the first foreign player to win a PBA tournament.

Like TampabayBob said, if it works for you don't change.

[Tampabaybob]

don't know if hinge is the solution. have fast feet already, shortening the length of my arm swing would make them have to move faster to catch up. would have to hold the ball like rash to make it work. I just wanted to know if I was the only one that did this. tried 4 step approach today in practice for first time in probably 20 years. ended up taking 8 baby steps. watching video my timing appears ok. but trying to tweak my mechanics. always been stuck in 210-215 range trying to get to 220.

Jay.... I hear your problem and as I've talked about this before....you've reached a "plateau". You're doing the correct things by looking at what you can change, because the "only" way to get to that next level (plateau) is to make some type of adjustment, be it big or small. If you remember back when you were a lower average bowler, each time you went up in average it was usually because of some type of small change you made, knowingly or not, and that brought you higher scores and hence a higher average.

I always remind people that the better you get, the harder it is, because now adjustments you make are usually very small. Getting to that next level, say to 220 to 230 is much harder that getting from 160 to 180 or 190. Agree? So my advice, if you're really having trouble getting over the top, seek out a Silver or Gold level coach, or even a touring pro, and take a lesson. You do know that all of the regulars you see on TV still go to coaches. They never say never, just because they have that card in their wallet. It possibly could only take one lesson, and you'd find that one very simple adjustment could get you over the top. Good luck, let me know how you make out.

[GeoLes]

I have experimented with step one push off and found that I was holding the ball in swing. When I push off on step three, I don't have enough time for proper bend and backswing in step 4. when I went back to step 2 pushoff, everything felt in good balance with an effortless swing. For me, its step, push step, step, slide.